Housing for Health – the guide
  • Safety
    Electrical Safety

    Electrical Safety

    • A1.1 Functioning Safety switches
    • A1.2 Electrical earth connection
    • A1.3 Cabling and wiring
    • A1.4 Power points, lights and other fittings
    Gas Safety

    Gas Safety

    • A2.1 Gas Safety
    Fire Safety

    Fire Safety

    • A3.1 Fire prevention
    • A3.2 Fire and smoke detection
    • A3.3 Escape in the event of fire
    Structural Safety

    Structural Safety

    • A4.1 Structural safety
  • Health & Housing
    Washing People

    Washing People

    • B1.1 Wet area design
    • B1.2 Hot water
    • B1.3 Water outlets, valves & taps
    • B1.4 Washing young children ― hand basins, bathtubs, and laundry tubs
    • B1.5 Showers
    • B1.6 Wet area floor drainage (bathroom, shower, toilet and laundry)
    • B1.7 Turning the water off to allow plumbing maintenance
    Washing clothes and bedding

    Washing clothes and bedding

    • B2.1 Laundry design
    • B2.2 Drying clothes and bedding
    Removing waste water safely

    Removing waste water safely

    • B3.1 Flush toilets
    • B3.2 House drains
    • B3.3 Septic tanks, common effluent drains and on-site effluent disposal systems
    • B3.4 Aerated waste water treatment systems

    • B3.5 Dry toilets
    Improving nutrition – the ability to store, prepare and cook food

    Improving nutrition – the ability to store, prepare and cook food

    • B4.1 Quality of drinking water
    • B4.2 Food storage
    • B4.3 Preparing food – sinks and benches
    • B4.4 Cooking
    • B4.5 General issues for kitchen design
    Reducing the negative impacts of crowding

    Reducing the negative impacts of crowding

    • B5.1 Performance of health hardware in households with more people
    • B5.2 Developing the edges of the house and the yard
    • B5.3 Storage areas in the house
    Reducing the negative effects of animals, insects and vermin

    Reducing the negative effects of animals, insects and vermin

    • B6.1 Animals: Dogs, cats and others
    • B6.2 Animals: rats, mice, snakes and birds
    • B6.3 Insects: ants and cockroaches
    • B6.4 Insects: mosquitoes and flies
    • B6.5 Insects: Dust mites
    • B6.6 Insects: termites
    Reducing the health impacts of dust

    Reducing the health impacts of dust

    • B7.1 Reducing the health impacts of dust
    Controlling the temperature of the living environment

    Controlling the temperature of the living environment

    • B8.1 Human comfort and climate
    • B8.2 Passive design in tropical zones
    • B8.3 Passive design for houses in arid and temperate climates
    • B8.4 Active cooling of houses
    • B8.5 Active heating of houses
    Reducing hazards that cause minor injury (trauma)

    Reducing hazards that cause minor injury (trauma)

    • B9.1 Hazardous materials
    • B9.2 Personal security
    • B9.3 Preventing slips, trips and falls
    • B9.4 Preventing cuts and abrasions
    • B9.5 Preventing burns
  • Healthy Communities
    Water

    Water

    • C1.1 Water quantity and treatment systems
    • C1.2 Water quantity and demand management
    • C1.3 Rainwater, stormwater and recycled water for landscaping
    Energy

    Energy

    • C2.1 Electricity
    • C2.2 Gas
    Waste Water

    Waste Water

    • C3.1 Waste water
    Household rubbish disposal

    Household rubbish disposal

    • C4.1 Household rubbish disposal
    Community planning

    Community planning

    Landscaping

    Landscaping

    • C6.1 Landscaping
    Communications

    Communications

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Home > Safety > Gas Safety > Gas Safety

A2.1 Gas Safety

Gas is used in some communities as an affordable alternative fuel for cooking and heating. Section C2.2 ‘Gas’ includes detailed information about choosing an appropriate gas system.

If the gas installation is faulty in any way, gas leaks may occur and could cause explosions, severe breathing difficulties or suffocation. Gas leaks will also mean extra costs to residents because of wasted gas. When choosing to use gas for cooking it is important to find out whether residents will be able to afford to buy gas bottles and whether the community has staff with the skills required to change a gas bottle. This is particularly a problem in communities where gas is very expensive, or when it is difficult to change gas bottles. In some states/territories only a licensed gas fitter can change gas bottles. There may also be an increased risk of fires and burns if residents make fires for cooking and heating if they have not been able to afford to replace gas bottles when the gas runs out.

When choosing gas appliances consider the fuel efficiency and built-in safety features. In particular look for appliances that have a gas fuse that stops the flow of gas if the flame goes out.

When choosing gas appliances consider the fuel efficiency and built-in safety features. In particular look for appliances that have a gas fuse that stops the flow of gas if the flame goes out.

Real world examples of problems

  • A2 001 Unsafe securing of smaller gas bottles
  • A2 002 Unsafe securing of smaller gas bottles
  • A2 003 Unsafe securing of smaller gas bottles
  • A2 004 Unsafe securing of smaller gas bottles
  • A2 005 Dangerous installation of gas bottles. No restraint, no solid base and near a venting window.
  • A2 006 Unsecured gas bottles
  • A2 007 Gas bottle located too close to window
  • A2 008 Flexible hoses can split when stretched
  • A2 009 Bottles too close to window and poorly supported
  • A2 011 Deterioration of regulator due to exposure to the environment
  • A2 015 Unsafe securing of smaller gas bottle
  • A2 017 Rising sea level inundates gas bottle enclosure
  • A2 021m Leaking gas connection
  • A2 020m Leaking gas connection
  • A2 022m Testing a leaking gas connection

Design and Specification

Ensure

  • A2.1.1.

    gas system is installed to comply with state or territory regulations

  • A2.1.2.

    gas bottles are safely located away from windows, doors and corners of the building

  • A2.1.3.

    bottles are accessible for filling or replacing 

  • A2.1.4.

    a platform or base, and a method for securing the bottles, is provided for the bottles

  • A2.1.5.

    gas regulators and feed lines into the house are secured to the wall and protected from accidental knocks

  • A2.1.6.

    approved connecting lines and connectors are specified

  • A2.1.7.

    gas appliances are located in well ventilated areas

  • A2.1.8.

    appliances are fitted with gas fuses, particularly if they are located near a door or window that could cause a draught.

Real world examples of Solutions

  • A2 010 Gas bottles are stamped with important certificate information
  • A2 012 Correct installation of gas bottle
  • A2 013 Enclosure for gas bottles
  • A2 014 Enclosure for gas bottles
  • A2 016 Stand for safely securing large and small gas bottles
  • A2 018 Stand for safely securing large and small gas bottles
  • A2 019 Stand for safely securing large and small gas bottles

Quality control

  • gas bottles are secure and are located safely
    info-icon
    SKETCH DESIGN
    COMPLETED DESIGN & SPECIFICATION
    DURING CONSTRUCTION
    AT HANDOVER
    FINAL COMPLETION
    TRADE TEST
  • gas bottles are accessible for filling or replacing 
    info-icon
    SKETCH DESIGN
    COMPLETED DESIGN & SPECIFICATION
    DURING CONSTRUCTION
    AT HANDOVER
    FINAL COMPLETION
  • gas appliances are secured to the wall or floor and are stable
    info-icon
    AT HANDOVER
    FINAL COMPLETION
    TRADE TEST
  • appliances are located in a well ventilated area
    info-icon
    COMPLETED DESIGN & SPECIFICATION
    DURING CONSTRUCTION
    AT HANDOVER
  • a compliance plate or compliance certificate has been provided by the gas fitter
    info-icon
    AT HANDOVER
    FINAL COMPLETION
    TRADE TEST
  • the system for leaks, after all appliances and bottles have been installed and are working
    info-icon
    DURING CONSTRUCTION
    AT HANDOVER
    FINAL COMPLETION
    TRADE TEST
  • all gas system fittings are secure
    info-icon
    DURING CONSTRUCTION
    AT HANDOVER
    FINAL COMPLETION
    TRADE TEST
  • the operation of all gas appliances all OK.
    info-icon
    DURING CONSTRUCTION
    AT HANDOVER
    FINAL COMPLETION
    TRADE TEST

Maintenance

As part of cyclical maintenance, check that:

  • the gas system compliance plate is fitted and is current
    info-icon
    Local Maintenance Team, Gas Plumber
    12 Months
  • safety instructions or warnings for the use of gas appliances are located on or near appliances
    info-icon
    Local Maintenance Team, Gas Plumber
    6 Months
  • there are no gas leaks, by putting soapy water on the gas pipes and connections and looking for bubbles
    info-icon
    Local Maintenance Team, Gas Plumber
    12 Months
  • residents are advised not to leave the valve on the gas bottle fully open to prevent the valve sticking and being hard to turn off in an emergency
    info-icon
    Local Maintenance Team
    6 Months
  • residents and housing managers have been provided with information on the operation, maintenance and checking of gas appliances.
    info-icon
    Housing Management, Gas Plumber
    12 Months
  • gas regulators, pipes and bottles are securely fixed
    info-icon
    Local Maintenance Team, Gas Plumber
    12 Months
  • gas stoves, hot water systems and heaters are in good condition and functioning safely.
    info-icon
    Local Maintenance Team, Gas Plumber
    12 Months

Standard And References

AS 5601-2004: Gas installations

Centre for Appropriate Technology Gas fittings, Bush Tech Brief #5, Our Place, Feb 2002, Alice Springs

Download PDF
Download PDF
of houses with gas installation tested OK (at time of survey of houses with gas system installed)
Click here for more data on Gas Safety

Real world story

The importance of living conditions to health

Dr. Lilon Bandler – Sydney Medical School Speaking on the importance of living conditions to health video: from Simon J Forbes on Vimeo. https://www.housingforhealth.com…

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